Operating table



Nov. 19, 1968 R. w. LANIGAN 3,411,766

OPERATING TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23. 1966 Nov. 19, 1968 R. w. LANIGAN 3,411,766-

OPERATING TABLE Filed Feb. 23. 1966 I: Sheets$heet 2 Nov. 19, 1968 R. w. LANIGAN 3,411,766

OPERAT ING TABLE} Filed Feb. 23. 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent Ill., assignor t0 Evanston, Ill.,

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A relatively light-weight and portable operating table readily transportable by air. The table includes a generally rectangular hollow base and a telescoping column extending upwardly therefrom. A rectangular seat section is mounted upon the column and rectangular head and leg sections are pivotally connected along opposite ends of the seat section, the head, leg and seat sections being no wider than the hollow base. When the table is c01- lapsed for transportation and storage, the pivotal leg and head sections are swung into depending vertical positions within the horizontal limits defined by the base. The base constitutes a ballast tank which may be filled with water for added stability. At least one of the legs which supports the base above a floor surface is adjustable so that the base may be tipped for draining. Beneath the patientsupporting panels of the table are interconnecting compartments for receiving X-ray film cassettes, the panels being formed of X-ray permeable material.

This invention relates generally to an operating table and more particularly to a portable operating table.

In times of a national emergency or disaster, such as war, flood, or earthquake, it is often necessary to provide temporary hospital facilities at remote locations. Since there is usually little or no advance warning of the emergency or disaster, the temporary hospital facilities must be quickly established in order to provide maximum benefit to individuals who have been injured. However, during a war or other disaster the prompt construction of temporary hospital facilities in remote locations is usually impeded by disruption and destruction of roads and other transportation facilities. When roads and other forms of ground transportation have been disrupted, air transportation is commonly utilized to convey emergency facilities to the scene of a battle or disaster. If airfields are available, the hospital facilities can be flown in by plane. Since air fields are not always available in the many remote locations where wars and disasters strike, helicopters and parachutes are used for the rapid transportation of emergency facilities to the scene of a battle or disaster.

The shipping of large quantities of emergency equipment by air transportation is difiicult due to the relatively limited freight hauling capacity of most airplanes and helicopters. The efficient use of the limited hauling capacity of helicopters and airplanes requires that as much equipment as possible be carried on each flight. Therefore, emergency hospital equipment which is intended for transportation by air, or any other available means, must be light weight and of a size and shape to permit maximum use to be made of the available cargo space. Once the equipment has arrived at the scene of the battle or other disaster, it must be quickly set up so that prompt medical attention can be rendered to the injured. In addition. to being easily transported and set up, the hospital equipment must function efficiently for its intended purpose so that a large number of patients can be given the best possible medical treatment.

The equipment which is in normal hospital use today does not meet the requirements set forth above for emer- ICC gency hospital equipment. The inadequacies of most hospital equipment for emergency use are epitomized in hospital operating tables. As is well known, standard hospital operating tables are large, heavy machines which have mechanisms for supporting a patient in almost any position for an operation. These operating tables greatly facilitate the work of a doctor and are very satisfactory for permanent installation in a hospital. However, due to their large size and Weight they are unsatisfactory for air transportation. Also modern hospital operating tables cannot be quickly set up for use, since they normally include a large amount of complex auxiliary equipment for positioning a patient. These characteristics of size, weight, and complexity make prior art operating tables entirely unsatisfactory for emergency transportation and use. However, an operating table is almost indispensible to a doctor who must perform a large number of different operations on casualties resulting from a war or other disaster.

Therefore, one of the objects of this invention is to provide an efficient portable operating table which can be readily transported and quickly set up.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable operating table which forms a compact unit for transportation.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable operating table which is rugged and light weight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable operating table which can support a patient in different operating positions.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the operating table in a horizontal operating position;

FIG. 2 is a side view showing operating table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detail view, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 3, of the positioning of an X-ray cassette;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the operating table of FIG. 1 in the shipping position;

FIG. 5 is an end view FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an opposite end view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the operating table in the storage position.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, a preferred embodiment of the operating table is shown in FIG. 1. The operating table 10 includes a rectangular base 12 on which a cylindrical telescoping column 14 is centrally mounted. A patient-supporting structure or table 15 is connected to an uppermost end of the column by a joint which permits at least longitudinal and lateral pivoting movement of the structure 15 relative to the base 12. The structure 15 is made up of a seat section 16, 18, a head section 20, and two leg sections 22 and 24.

The sections, which make up the table 15, are movable relative to each other so that portions. of a patients body can be held in different positions depending on the operation to be performed. Therefore, as is best seen in FIG. 2, the back section 18 is pivotably fastened at the joints 19, to a forward edge of the seat section 16. The interconnected back and seat sections, which are of the same width, form a movable support for the upper and lower trunk portions of a patients body. The head section 20 is removably connected, by a latching mechanism 21, to a forward end of the back section 18 to support a patients head. The two leg sections 22 and 24 are privotably fastened, at the joints 25, to a rear edge of the seat section 16 and provide support for a patients legs. It is contemplated the construction of the taken along the line 5-5 of a back sectionv that a foot support section could be connected to the leg sections and, if desired, an arm support section could be connected to a side of the back section.

The operating table is shown in FIG. 2 with the support structure in a horizontal position. The height of the structure 15 is adjusted by turning a vertical control handle 26 which is fastened to a shaft 28. The shaft 28 releasably engages, by means of a socket which is not shown, the end of a shaft 29. The shaft 29 extends through the base 12 and is connected to a known gear mechanism 30. Actuation of the gear mechanism 30, by rotating the shafts 28 and 29, will raise and lower an inner tube 32 of the telescoping support column 14. This vertical movement, which is obtained by means of a conventional screw and gearing arrangement, permits the operating table to be adjusted to an optimum working level for a doctor and other personnel.

In addition to being adjustable vertically, the support structure 15 is pivotable longitudinally to lower the leg sections 22 and 24 while raising the head section 20, as indicated by dashed lines to the left of FIG. 2. The pivoting movement is obtained by turning the control handle 36 (shown in FIG. 1). Turning the control handle 36 counterclockwise causes screw drive mechanism 37 to pivot control 38 which tilts the support structure 15 dethe table. Conversely, turning the control handle 36 clockwise causes screw drive mechanism 37 to pivot the support structure 15 downwardly and lower the head section while raising the leg sections 22 and 24, as indicated by the dashed lines to the right of FIG. 2. This longitudinal pivoting movement of the support structure 15 permits a doctor to position a patient at an angle while performing an operation.

A back control handle 34 is connected to a conventional screw drive mechanism 35 for raising and lowering the back section 18 relative to the seat section. When the back control handle 36 is turned counterclockwise the drive mechanism 35 pivots the back section upwardly about the joints 19. When the control handle is turned counterclockwise the back section will be pivoted downwardly to the position shown in FIG. 2. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the combination of the back control adjustment and longitudinal pivot control adjustment permits the operating table 10 to be moved to a large number of the operating positions which are commonly utilized. The versatility of the table is further increased by a lateral pivot control 38 which tilts the support structure 15 degrees laterally, by means of a conventional screw drive, relative to the horizontal plane.

The base 12 includes a ballast tank 54 which is filled with water or other suitable liquid 56. The ballast tank is filled through a normally covered mouth or opening 58 in the top of the ballast tank. A drain plug 60 is provided in the bottom of the ballast tank near one corner thereof so that the tank can be easily emptied. The ballast tank 54, when filled with water, forms an extremely stable base for the operating table 10. Since the center of gravity of a patient will be positioned directly above the telescoping column 14, the table is stable even if the ballast tank 54 is empty. Thus, the operating table can be used in locations having an inadequate water supply. However, it will be apparent that the fluid 56 greatly enhances the stability of the table, and the tank should be filled, if possible, when operating. A suitable germicide or antiseptic can be added to the fluid 56 to permit the fluid to be used for cleaning up when the operating table is moved from the emergency location.

The ballast tank 54 is held above the floor on legs 62 which are mounted on the bottom of the ballast tank. One of the legs 62 nearest drain 60 is threadedly mounted for vertical adjustment so that the operating table 10 can be leveled on an uneven surface and, in addition, may be easily tilted for drainage of the ballast tank. In addition, the legs 62 provide a space 64 between a support plane 65 for the operating table and the bottom of the ballast tank 54. The space 64 permits the feet of a doctor, and other personnel utilizing the operating table, to extend under the tank when working at the operating table. To further increase the comfort of operating personnel, the top portion of the ballast tank 54 includes a pair of oblique longitudinally extending sidewalls 66 and 68 which form a raised foot rest.

The head, back, seat and leg sections of the support table 15 have a similar construction which is best seen in FIG. 3. Since the sections all have substantially the same construction, only the head section 20 will be described in detail. The sections are constructed of an X- ray permeable plate 74 which is mounted above and substantially parallel to a base frame 76. The plate 74 is held in this position by a series of mounting posts 78 at the corners of the plate to form a compartment 79. This construction permits an Xray cassette 80 to be inserted in the compartment 79, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, between the frame 76 and the plate 74. Since the plate 74 is X-ray permeable, the film in the cassette 84) will be exposed when a patient is X-rayed, to photograph the portion of the patient directly above the eassette.

From an inspection of FIG. 3, it will be seen that the cassette 8!) is slightly narrower than the distance between the mounting posts 78. Therefore, the cassette may be moved longitudinally along the operating table from a compartment in one section to the adjoining compartment in another section. When the cassette is positioned between two compartments an X-ray may be taken of a portion of the patients body which is intermediate two of the sections. Thus, when the cassette 80 is positioned between the seat and back sections, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, an X-ray of a middle portion of a patients trunk can be taken.

In order to form a compact shipping unit the support structure 15 can be moved from the operating position, shown in FIG. 2, to a storage or shipping position, shown in FIG. 4. The support table 15 is moved from the operating position to the shipping position by first disconnecting the head section 20 from the outer end of the back section 18 by releasing the latching mechanism 21. After the head section 20 has been removed from the back section 18 the table is raised vertically, from the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2 to the position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2.

When the support structure 15 has been elevated the leg and back sections are pivoted downwardly to a shipping position adjacent the column 14. The latch 84 is disengaged to swing the leg sections 22 and 24 downwardly, around joints 25, from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 to the vertical storage position shown in FIG. 4. The vertical control handle 26 and the shaft 28 are then disconnected from the shaft 29. Next the control handles 34 and 36, and the associated screw drive mechanisms 35 and 37, are disengaged, by loosening suitable pin connections 88, from the support table 15. Then the lateral pivot control handle 38 is removed and the back section 18 is pivoted, about joints 19, from the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2 to the vertical position shown in FIG. 4. When the leg and back sections have been positioned as shown in FIG. 4, a storage chest 92 is positioned on the end of the base 12 adjacent to the vertically extending back section 18. The storage chest 92 is utilized to store the handles 26, 34, 36 and 38, which are removably connected to their rotating shafts and auxiliary supplies for use in connection with the operating table 10.

Referring now to FIG. 4, taken in conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 6, the back section 18 and the leg sections 22 and 24 are shown in the shipping position wherein they are generally parallel to the column 14. In this position the leg sections 22 and 24 are located with their outermost edges 96 and 98 adjacent to an upper surface 100 of the base 12. Similarly, the back section 18 is positioned with an outermost edge 102 adjacent the upper surface 100 of the base 12. When the back section 18 and the leg sections 22 and 24 are so positioned, the operating table, with the auxiliary supply chest 92, forms a relatively compact unit which requires relatively little space and cannot be easily damaged during shipment. When constructed as previously described a six foot operating table, in the shipping position, forms a unit which is approximately 38 inches high, 28 inches wide, and 23 inches thick. Since the back section 18 and the two leg sections 22 and 24 do not, in the shipping position, protrude outwardly, the entire unit may be readily stored for transporting with other materials. It is contemplated that the head section 20 will be stored, for shipment, between the two legs 22 and 24 and the column 14 (see FIG. 4). A suitable pad 104, for the support structure 15, may also be stored between the leg sections and column 4. The pad 104 includes four sections, one for the seat and back section, two for each of the leg sections and a fourth for the head section. The entire unit is protected by shipping cover 106 while being transported.

For purposes of affording a more complete understanding of the invention, it is advantageous now to provide a functional description of the mode in which the component parts cooperate. The operating table will be transported to the site where it is to be utilized by plane or other means with the table in the shipping position shown in FIGS. 4 and 7. When the operating table arrives at the location where it is to be used, the cover 106 is removed from the unit. The storage cabinet 92 is then lifted off the base 12. Next the back section 18 is pivoted around the joint 19 to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2. The control handles 26, 34, 36 and 38, and their associated drive mechanisms, are then connected to the table. The two leg sections 22 and 24 are then pivoted to the horizontal position shown in FIG. 2. The head section is attached to the outer edge portion of the back section 18. The vertical control handle 26 is then rotated to lower the operating table to the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. The pads 104 are then placed in position. If water is available, the ballast tank 54 is filled and the operating table is ready for use.

If a patient has injuries requiring X-ray photographs to be taken, the film cassette 80 may be positioned in a compartment 79 immediately beneath the injury which is to be X-rayed. While the cassette may be inserted in a compartment 79 with the table in any selected position of adjustment, it may be desirable to first adjust the table sections into coplanar relation to permit shifting of the cassette from one section to another. After use of the table, when the temporary hospital facilities are to be moved to another location, the operating table is returned to the storage position by merely reversing the above procedure for setting up the table.

While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown; it should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited thereto, since many modifications may be made; and it is, therefore, contemplated to cover by the appended claims any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable operating table comprising: a hollow base of generally rectangular configuration having vertical side and end walls, a telescoping support column mounted on said base and projecting upwardly therefrom, a generally rectangular seat section mounted at the upper end of said column for supporting the lower trunk portion of a patient, said seat section being of substantially the same width as said base and having lateral side edges normally parallel with and directly above the side walls of said rectangular base, a back section pivotally connected to a first end portion of said seat section for supporting an upper trunk portion of a patient, said back section having substantially the same width as said base and being pivotal about a horizontal pivot line above and parallel with one end wall of said base into a depending storage position wherein said back section is disposed entirely within the horizontal limits of said base, divided log sections connected to a second end portion of said seat section for supporting the legs of a patient, said leg sections being pivotal downwardly into depending storage positions wherein said leg sections are disposed entirely within the horizontal limits of said base.

2. The structure of claim -1 in which said hollow base comprises a ballast tank for retaining a liquid to improve the stability of said operating table, said ballast tank having aperture means through which liquid may be added to and drained from said tank to alter the weight of said table, said base also including depending legs adapted to rest upon a floor surface for supporting said ballast tank in spaced relation thereabove.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which at least one of said legs is vertically adjustable for leveling said base and for tipping the same when said ballast tank is drained.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said back, seat, and leg sections comprises a body-supporting plate, a frame spaced below said plate and substantially parallel therewith, and means extending between said frame and plate to space the same apart and to provide therebetween a compartment adapted to receive X-ray cassettes, said compartments of said respective sections communicating with each other when said sections extend in substantially the same plane, whereby, an X-ray cassette may be shifted from one section to another beneath a patient supported upon said table, said plate of each section being formed of X-ray penmeable material.

5. A portable operating table comprising: a hollow base, table support means extending upwardly from said base, and a plurality of interconnected table sections mounted at the upper end of said support means; said base being generally rectangular in configuration and comprising a ballast tan-k provided with apertures for introducing liquid into said tank and for draining the same therefrom; said base also including depending legs adapted to rest upon a floor surface, at least one of said legs being vertically adjustable to facilitate tipping of said base when liquid is to be drained from said tank; said interconnected table sections having a width"; no greater than said base and being pivotally joined to each other for relative movement into collapsed condition, said interconnected table sections when shifted into collapsed condition having a horizontal length no greater than said base.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 395,001 12/1888 ussell 269-326 2,693,987 11/ 1954 Wall 269-323 2,806,131 9/ 1957 Palmer 248-346 X 2,965,425 12/ 1960 Grinsell 269-326 3,065,344 11/1962 C-her-venka 269-325 X 3,206,188 9/ 1965 Douglass 269-325 3,247,823 4/ 1966 Buck 248-346 X ROBERT C. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. I. F. McKEOWN, Assistant Examiner. 

